Interleukin-1ß is a positive regulator of TIARP/STAMP2 gene and protein expression in adipocytes in vitro

The impact of interleukin (IL)-1ß on tumor necrosis factor α-induced adipose-related protein (TIARP)/six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2) was determined in adipocytes. TIARP/STAMP2 mRNA synthesis was significantly stimulated by IL-1ß in a dose- and time-dependent fashion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Signaling studies suggested that janus kinase 2, nuclear factor κB, and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase are involved in IL-1ß-induced TIARP/STAMP2 mRNA expression. Furthermore, IL-1ß, TNFα, and IL-6 showed synergistic stimulatory effects on TIARP/STAMP2 gene expression. Moreover, both TIARP/STAMP2 mRNA synthesis and protein expression were induced by IL-1ß in fully differentiated human mesenchymal stem cell-derived adipocytes (hMSC-Ad). Taken together, TIARP/STAMP2 is highly upregulated in 3T3-L1 cells and hMSC-Ad by IL-1ß and might, therefore, modulate proinflammatory and insulin resistance-inducing effects of IL-1ß.     

Divergent activities of protein kinases in IL-6-induced differentiation of a human B cell line

Lymphokines including IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 are involved in the induction of Ig production by activated B cells. We have investigated the role of protein kinases in IL-6-induced IgM secretion by SKW6.4 cells, an IL-6 responsive B cell line. IL-6-stimulated IgM production was inhibited by elevated intracellular cAMP induced either by the addition of dibutyryl cAMP or cholera toxin. The inhibitory effect of elevated intracellular cAMP was blocked by n-(2-(Methylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonic dihydrochloride (H8), an inhibitor of protein kinase A. H8 did not affect IgM secretion induced by IL-6. In contrast, the addition of 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperizine dihydrochloride (H7), an inhibitor of protein kinase C activity, markedly inhibited IL-6-stimulated IgM production by SKW6.4 cells. H7 and elevated intracellular cAMP inhibited IgM mRNA expression and subsequent IgM synthesis by SKW6.4 cells. SKW6.4 proliferation, as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation, was not markedly affected by IL-6, dibutyryl cAMP, cholera toxin, H7 or H8. PMA, an activator of protein kinase C, directly stimulated significant IgM secretion by SKW6.4 cells. When added to PMA-stimulated SKW6.4 cells, IL-6 stimulated additional IgM production. This observation suggested that IL-6 could stimulate differentiation without activating protein kinase C. This was confirmed by demonstrating that IL-6 did not stimulate production of diacylglycerol, did not induce the translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosolic compartment to the plasma membrane and could induce SKW6.4 cells to produce IgM after depletion of their cellular protein kinase C by PMA. Taken together these results suggests that IL-6-stimulated IgM production requires utilization of an H7-inhibitable protein kinase that can be inhibited by a protein kinase A-dependent pathway. Despite the fact that PMA can stimulate IgM production in SKW6.4 cells, IL-6 appears to use a protein kinase pathway other than protein kinase C to induce IgM production.     

Arachidonic acid and cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulation of c-fos expression by a pathway independent of phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase C

The stimulation of cell proliferation by platelet-derived and other growth factors is associated with a rapid increase in the expression of the c-fos protooncogene. We and others have shown that phosphosphoinositide turnover and protein kinase C play a role in the activation of this gene by growth factors, but that a second, kinase C-independent pathway(s) exist. Because cAMP potentiates the actions of a number of growth factors and is elevated in platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cells, we examined the ability of cAMP to stimulate c-fos expression in this cell type. Forskolin, a direct activator of adenylate cyclase, elicited marked increases in c-fos mRNA levels. Receptor-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase by prostaglandin E1 and stimulation with the cAMP analog 8-bromo-cAMP also enhanced c-fos expression. In cells made protein-kinase C deficient, c-fos induction by phorbol ester was abolished; by contrast, c-fos was still induced by cAMP-elevating agents in protein kinase C-depleted cells. Platelet-derived growth factor causes cAMP accumulation by stimulating arachidonic acid release and the formation of prostaglandins capable of activating adenylate cyclase. The addition of arachidonic acid and the arachidonate metabolite prostaglandin E2 to Swiss 3T3 cultures stimulated c-fos expression. These data suggest the existence of a pathway from growth factor receptor to gene induction that is mediated by cAMP and does not depend on a phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase C.     

Effect of ceramide on interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblast-like cells.

We previously showed that prostaglandin (PG) E1 stimulates the synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6) through activation of protein kinase (PK) A in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and that PGF2alpha induces IL-6 synthesis through PKC activation. In other studies, we demonstrated that thrombin stimulates IL-6 synthesis, which depends on intracellular Ca2+ mobilisation in these cells and that tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induces IL-6 synthesis through sphingosine 1-phosphate, a product of sphingomyelin turnover. In the present study, among sphingomyelin metabolites, we examined the effect of ceramide on the IL-6 synthesis induced by various agonists in MC3T3-E1 cells. C2-ceramide, a cell-permeable ceramide analogue, suppressed the PGE1-induced IL-6 synthesis. C2-ceramide inhibited the IL-6 synthesis induced by PGF2alpha or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an activator of PKC. C2-ceramide reduced the IL-6 synthesis induced by cholera toxin, forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP. C2-ceramide inhibited the IL-6 synthesis induced by thrombin. The IL-6 synthesis stimulated by thapsigargin, which is known to stimulate Ca2+ mobilisation from intracellular Ca2+ stores, or A23187, a Ca-ionophore, was also inhibited by C2-ceramide. C2-ceramide did not affect the IL-6 synthesis induced by interleukin-1. On the contrary, C2-ceramide enhanced the TNF-induced IL-6 synthesis. D,L-threo-dihydrosphingosine, an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase, inhibited the enhancement by C2-ceramide as well as the TNF-effect. These results strongly suggest that ceramide modulates the IL-6 synthesis stimulated by various agonists in osteoblasts.     

Synergistic induction of interleukin 2 receptor (TAC) expression on YT cells by interleukin 1 or tumor necrosis factor alpha in combination with cAMP inducing agents

This study demonstrates synergistic effects on Tac expression by interleukin 1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in combination with the adenylate cyclase stimulator, forskolin (FK), as well as by IL-1 with TNF alpha in the human NK-like leukemic cell line YT. The maximal expression level (greater than 80% positive cells) obtained with FK plus IL-1 or FK plus TNF alpha could not be obtained by increasing the concentration of either agent alone. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Tac protein expression is correlated with increased steady-state Tac mRNA levels. Other agents that increase intracellular cAMP, such as prostaglandin E (PGE) or isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX), also synergized with IL-1 or TNF alpha (but not with FK). The findings suggest that cAMP plays a role in regulating Tac expression in YT cells, and that IL-1, TNF, and FK use distinct signal transduction mechanisms, all resulting in the same end point effect, namely, induction of Tac mRNA and cell surface protein expression.     

Up-regulation of thrombomodulin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro

Previous studies have shown that thrombomodulin (TM) on endothelial cells is down-regulated by endotoxin, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). This loss of anti-coagulant potential is thought to be related to the hypercoagulable state in sepsis, inflammation, and cancer. The current studies describe up-regulation of TM in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by several compounds as judged by increased surface cofactor activity, surface TM antigen, and TM mRNA levels. Surface TM activity was increased by active phorbol esters (10(-8) M, 24-48 h), analogs of cAMP (1-10 mM, 4 h), and forskolin (10(-5) M, 24-48 h). Up-regulation of TM in HUVECs by 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and dibutyryl cAMP (dBcAMP) was due to de novo synthesis of TM protein resulting from increased TM mRNA levels. The results suggest that protein kinase C and protein kinase A may be involved in cellular regulatory mechanisms for TM expression. In addition, PMA effects on surface TM activity are biphasic, with an initial reduction followed by a significant enhancement. Hence, we propose that compounds capable of increasing intracellular cAMP concentrations in HUVECs may be useful in preventing thrombosis by increasing the anti-thrombotic properties of endothelial cells.     

Sphingosine modulates interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblasts

We previously reported that prostaglandin (PG)E₁ and PGF_2α induce the synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6) via activation of protein kinase (PK)A and PKC, respectively, in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, we have shown that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) elicits IL-6 synthesis through intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization in these cells and that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) induces IL-6 synthesis through sphingosine 1-phosphate produced by sphingomyelin hydrolysis. In the present study, among sphingomyelin metabolites, we examined the effect of sphingosine on IL-6 synthesis induced by various agonists in MC3T3-E1 cells. Sphingosine inhibited the IL-6 synthesis induced by PGF_2α or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an activator of PKC. Sphingosine suppressed the PGE₁-induced IL-6 synthesis. The IL-6 synthesis induced by cholera toxin, forskolin, or dibutyryl cAMP was inhibited by sphingosine. Sphingosine inhibited the IL-6 synthesis induced by bFGF or A23187. However, sphingosine did not affect the IL-6 synthesis induced by interleukin-1. On the contrary, sphingosine enhanced the TNF-induced IL-6 synthesis. DL-threo-Dihydrosphingosine, an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase, reduced the enhancement by sphingosine as well as the TNF-effect. These results indicate that sphingosine modulates the IL-6 synthesis stimulated by various agonists in osteoblasts. J. Cell. Biochem. 70:338–345. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Regulation of tumor necrosis factor gene expression and protein synthesis in murine macrophages treated with recombinant tumor necrosis factor

The effect of murine rTNF-alpha on c-fos and TNF mRNA accumulation and protein synthesis was investigated in bone marrow-derived macrophages to examine the mechanism(s) by which TNF modulates macrophage activity. A rapid and transient expression of the c-fos gene was induced by murine rTNF. This was blocked by 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, suggesting that the murine rTNF stimulated a protein kinase C-dependent signal transduction pathway. Although LPS induced the accumulation of one TNF mRNA species, murine rTNF induced the synthesis of two distinct TNF mRNA species. Both LPS- and murine rTNF-induced TNF mRNA accumulation was equally enhanced by pretreatment with mouse rIFN-gamma. In contrast, cycloheximide pretreatment had little effect on murine rTNF-induced TNF mRNA accumulation, whereas this treatment increased LPS-induced TNF mRNA by sevenfold. These results argue that TNF mRNA accumulation can be modulated in macrophages by distinct mechanisms. As assessed by Western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis, LPS stimulated the synthesis of both cell-associated and secreted forms of TNF protein. In comparison, newly synthesized TNF protein was not detected when macrophages were treated with murine rTNF alone or in combination with murine rIFN-gamma. This demonstrates that although murine rTNF stimulated the synthesis of two distinct TNF mRNA species, additional signal(s) are necessary for their translation into protein and that such signals are present after LPS stimulation.     

Inflammatory factors stimulate expression of group II phospholipase A2 in rat cultured astrocytes. Two distinct pathways of the gene expression

Inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 1 (IL-1), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) greatly enhance the expression of group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2-II) mRNA, leading to increased secretion of PLA2-II enzyme from rat-cultured astrocytes. The potent antiinflammatory agent dexamethasone suppressed the PLA2-II expression induced by LPS. In vivo studies also demonstrated that the level of PLA2-II mRNA in the brain increased with intravenous injection of LPS. These results suggest that PLA2-II in the brain plays important roles in the inflammatory response. Agents which increase intracellular cAMP concentration did not stimulate PLA2-II expression by themselves but selectively enhanced TNF-induced PLA2-II expression about 5-fold. Phorbol ester, a well known protein kinase C activator, increased the PLA2-II expression. H-7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited the LPS-induced PLA2-II expression, but did not inhibit the TNF-induced one. Therefore, we conclude that the TNF-activated pathway differs from the LPS-activated one: the former is enhanced by cAMP and the latter involves protein kinase C.     

Lithium chloride potentiates tumor necrosis factor-induced and interleukin 1-induced cytokine and cytokine receptor expression.

The antimalignant cell activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in many cell types can be enhanced by lithium chloride (LiCl). This study shows the in vitro effect of LiCl on the TNF-induced or interleukin 1 (IL-1)-induced expression of IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-3, IL-2, and the IL-2 receptor-alpha (IL-2R alpha). The levels of IL-6 and GM-CSF in the medium of TNF-treated L929 fibrosarcoma cells were increased by cotreatment with LiCl. In contrast, enhancement of IL-6 production by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or cycloheximide was not affected by LiCl. The production of IL-6 and GM-CSF was not correlated with sensitivity to TNF-mediated cell killing. IL-1 by itself had no measurable effects on L929 cells. However, LiCl potentiated the IL-1-induced synthesis of IL-6, GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-2 in PC60 murine T-cell hybridoma cells. TNF alone induced only GM-CSF production in these cells, but in the presence of LiCl, increased amounts of GM-CSF as well as small amounts of IL-2 and IL-6 could be detected. It is also shown that in these PC60 cells the expression of the IL-2R alpha was induced by TNF + LiCl treatment but not by TNF alone. IL-2R alpha expression was likewise considerably enhanced by IL-1 + LiCl treatment, as compared with treatment with IL-1 alone. The effects of LiCl on the TNF-induced and the IL-1-induced gene expression seem to be independent of the protein kinase A and C pathways. These results show that LiCl can modulate both TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and TNF-induced and IL-1-induced cytokine expression, suggesting that Li+ acts early in the TNF-signaling pathway, but at a step shared with the IL-1-signaling pathway.     

Activation of macrophage CD8: pharmacological studies of TNF and IL-1 beta production

Previously, we demonstrated that rat macrophages express CD8 and that Ab to CD8 stimulates NO production. We confirm that CD8 is expressed by rat macrophages and extend understanding of its functional significance. Activation of CD8 alpha (OX8 Ab) on alveolar macrophages stimulated mRNA expression for TNF and IL-1 beta and promoted TNF and IL-1 beta secretion. Similarly, OX8 Ab (CD8 alpha) stimulated NR8383 cells to secrete TNF, IL-1 beta, and NO. Activation of CD8 beta (Ab 341) on alveolar macrophages increased mRNA expression for TNF and IL-1 beta and stimulated secretion of TNF, but not IL-1 beta. Interestingly, anti-CD8 Abs did not stimulate IFN-gamma or PGE2 production, or phagocytosis by macrophages. OX8 (CD8 alpha)-induced TNF and IL-1 beta production by macrophages was blocked by inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase(s), PP1, and genistein, but not by phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. Moreover, OX8 stimulated protein tyrosine kinase activity in NR8383 cells. Further analysis of kinase dependence using antisense to Syk kinase demonstrated that TNF, but not IL-1 beta, stimulation by CD8 alpha is Syk dependent. By contrast, protein kinase C inhibitor Ro 31-8220 had no effect on OX8-induced TNF production, whereas OX8-induced IL-1 beta production was blocked by Ro 31-8220. Thus, there are distinct signaling mechanisms involved in CD8 alpha (OX8)-induced TNF and IL-1 beta production. In summary, macrophages express CD8 molecules that, when activated, stimulate TNF and IL-1 beta expression, probably through mechanisms that include activation of Src and Syk kinases and protein kinase C. These findings identify a previously unknown pathway of macrophage activation likely to be involved in host defense and inflammation.     

Requirement of hydrogen peroxide generation in TGF-beta 1 signal transduction in human lung fibroblast cells: involvement of hydrogen peroxide and Ca2+ in TGF-beta 1-induced IL-6 expression

Stimulation of human lung fibroblast cells with TGF-beta1 resulted in a transient burst of reactive oxygen species with maximal increase at 5 min after treatment. This reactive oxygen species increase was inhibited by the antioxidant, N-acetyl-l -cysteine (NAC). TGF-beta1 treatment stimulated IL-6 gene expression and protein synthesis in human lung fibroblast cells. Antioxidants including NAC, glutathione, and catalase reduced TGF-beta1-induced IL-6 gene expression, and direct H2O2 treatment induced IL-6 expression in a dose-dependent manner. NAC also reduced TGF-beta1-induced AP-1 binding activity, which is involved in IL-6 gene expression. It has been reported that Ca2+ influx is stimulated by TGF-beta1 treatment. EGTA suppressed TGF-beta1- or H2O2-induced IL-6 expression, and ionomycin increased IL-6 expression, with simultaneously modulating AP-1 activity in the same pattern. PD98059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase/extracellular signal-related kinase kinase 1, suppressed TGF-beta1- or H2O2-induced IL-6 and AP-1 activation. In addition, TGF-beta1 or H2O2 increased MAPK activity which was reduced by EGTA and NAC, suggesting that MAPK is involved in TGF-beta1-induced IL-6 expression. Taken together, these results indicate that TGF-beta1 induces a transient increase of intracellular H2O2 production, which regulates downstream events such as Ca2+ influx, MAPK, and AP-1 activation and IL-6 gene expression.